Beer: Reviews & Ratings

I'm not yet a fan of Flying Fish, tho I live in NJ and a favorite brewer is local Carton. This is the best FF beer I've tried.

A: The pour is a amber golden color with an energetic white head that clings to and laces the glass.

S: Mix of hops and sweet tripel. The hops provide citrus and floral notes.Fruit, no quite banana (yay!), more like plums and apricots, yeast and esters.

T: Follows aroma, the hops provide floral flare - flower shop, with apricot jam on toast. Sweetness with apricots, pears, and sugar, balanced by the spice from the yeast. The hops are plentiful, citrusy, and fruity, but are a back ground, and offer plenty of pepper in the finish.

F: 4.0 - body, mouth feel, long peppery finish. check.

M: Medium in body with a fairly crisp carbonation, given how sweet and high alcohol this beer is.

D: This is a very nice beer, and a very interesting take on the style. Certainly not traditional, but very tasty. (801 characters) (954 characters)

It has a fruity flavor. Definitely more hoppy than your typical trippel. But just as strong. Finish is crisp. Look is bronze in color and a white foamy head. I really enjoy the balance of sweet and hops. One of my favorites, but it might be my jersey biased. Either way, beer lovers should at least try it. Just not too many, it is a trippel. (345 characters)

I'm not a fan of yeasty beers but this one isn't bad. Some noticeable hops help it out. Smell is all yeast for me. Taste is fruity up front followed by some nice hops and then aftertaste is lingering yeast. Not my style. nb (223 characters)

Golden in color with a large amount of head that settles down to about a quarter inch. Minor lacing present as well.Smell is hops, banana, lemon and oddly enough blueberry.Taste is sweet fruit up front with spice notes and a hoppy backbone.Mouthful is light to medium with a higher amount of carbonation. Finish is crisp.Overall, this reminds me more of an IPA than tripel which makes this a good mix of both worlds. (422 characters)

American "trippel," indeed. Very good for an American take on the style, gorgeous color, body, and mouthfeel, and most notable of all, a hearty yeasty tripel taste whose malt is unexpectedly balanced with a delightful infusion of hops. Hence, the "American" part. This is a solid ale. (284 characters)

I'm from South NJ - so I love to support Flying Fish, but this comes off to me as closer to a DIPA than a tripel. First of all - the color is more amber than light golden. Smell is very good - but more floral that a typical tripel. I like the taste - and am not disappointed, but this tastes nothing like your world class tripels - i.e. La Fin Du Monde, Hennepin, Tripel Karmeliet, Long Strange, Westmalle. It has that sweet, slightly hoppy flavor of a DIPA. Nice carbonation and mouthfeel.Like I said - not disappointing at all, just not your typical tripel. I would buy again, but wouldn't drink if I was jonesing for a tripel. (635 characters)

Served in a tulip glass. Hazy yellow color with a large white head with great retention. Aroma is strong and satisfying. Clove spice, orange citrus, and banana. The flavor adds a bit of alcohol into the mix. Sweet and fruity, but with big spicy overtones. Long-lasting flavor that is warming without being overbearing. Medium bodied that feels even lighter thanks to the strong carbonation.

One of the better American tripels I've had, right up there with Allagash. (524 characters)

Very interesting beer almost a hybrid beer with 95% tripel with an inventive infusion of hops to add a new dimension to the tripel style. This viscous brew coats the palate with a wide spectrum of flavors as others here have described. The brewers at Flying Fish have definitely created a dynamic beer that is outside of the box and is a great brew to drink slowly and enjoy. (378 characters)

Was close to drain pouring this on first taste but it got a good bit better as it warmed. Lots of citrus hops and alcohol. The biggest problem with this beer is the alcohol actually is stronger than the 9.5 percent that it checks in at. (239 characters)

beautiful clear golden color..moderate carb and a little white frothy head. Smells of beligiany yeast..kind of like a saision with the apple,clementine,coriander, and behind all that a sweet sugary candy sweetness pokes through. maybe a little bit of artificial banana type scent too....wow this is tasty........not a very big hop presence at all.....a TOUCH of bitterness...not even......kind of sweet...crisp....towards the end a boozy kick comes in but is knocked out quick by sweetness, making this beer quite drinkable for a 9.5. mouthfeel is very light,smooth....medium amount of carbonation.. tasty!!! ...and I'm not a big triple guy. Overall, a super drinkable beer, with some saison characteristics...mainly in the nose. pick this one up give it a try! (761 characters)

Looks like most light beers, smells like the real deal and will knock you down like a left hook from Joe Frazier or make you try to sing like Frank Sinatra if he still lived in Hoboken, Toxic State. For the price that I got it in Ca. it was worth every oz. Jersey ain't known for it's clean water so this is a the best option for drinking beer in NJ.. Have a few before you take that canoe trip down the awesome Delaware river, hope you can swim good though. (458 characters)

out of 12 oz bottle into tulip. slightly hazy yellow orange. aromas of apple, orange marmalade, cinnamon, nut, hint of vanilla. flavor has a hint of fruity liqueur, licorice, melon, lemon, orange, clementine. good amt of sweetness vanilla esque. has everything a tripel should and more, just a little bit more acidic than I like. (329 characters)

O: Not a bad beer, but seems a little odd for a tripel. Less pilsner character, less alcohol heat, less big flavors than expected for the listed style. It tastes more like a Belgian Strong Pale Ale to me. This bottle didn't seem to have much in the way of the promised hoppiness, but there's no freshness information on the bottle either. Still, a tasty beer, if nothing outstanding. (1,128 characters)

T: I'm definitely not used to a hoppy tripel... Fruity esters and alcohol are dominant in the beginning before giving way to a bit of a citrusy hop characteristic - which kind of goes ok with the banana quality. Lingering bitterness.

M: medium/full bodied with a mostly dry finish.

O: Tough to rate this one since it is much hoppier than any other tripel I'ved tried. The tastes are pretty good and the alcohol is not too well hidden. (at 9.5% thats not a big surprise). Overall, I'm happy I've tried it. (629 characters)

Pours a hazy yellow-orange with a foamy bone head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, earth, yeast, spice, and citrus aromas. Taste is much the same with malt, citrus, and Brett like flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness and an alcohol kick on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and dry mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is tasty but slightly boozy. (569 characters)

Poured from a 12oz bottle (Best By Date of 12/11/14...so it was bottled 12/11/13) into a Lost Abbey branded Rastal Teku 2.0 glass...

A- Pours a hazy golden yellow/orange hue with a single finger worth of a white head, dissipating quickly...noticeable sediment suspended in the liquid. 3.75

S- The 'American Trippel' designation does not disappoint as the aroma is wonderfully unique and massively complex.. Instead of the familiar aromas dominated by esters from the yeast and other adjuncts (i.e. spices), Exit 4 blooms with a bold aroma dominated by a combination of honey-like sweetness and a hop cocktail courtesy of Simcoe, Columbus, Palisade and Amarillo varieties. Depending on what you look for and how your palate is behaving...citrus (orange, lemon/lime, grapefruit), fleshy tropical fruits (white grape, pear, peach, passionfruit), pine as well as some classic yeast producing esters: banana and bubblegum...simply amazing! Without a doubt, this one of my favorite aromas for a beer (and especially a Trippel). 5.0

T- The palate is immediately met with those sweet tropical flavors found in the nose. A hint of spice is detected mid-palate which quickly morphs into a dry piney finish courtesy of the triumphant blending of Columbus hops, acidulated malt and Demerara sugar. Despite being 9.5% ABV, the alcohol is undetectable. Flying Fish defines Exit 4 as a 'hoppy trippel' and just like the aroma, does not disappoint in the flavor. Another perfect score! 5.0

O- Exit 4 is the epitome of a blend between a Belgian Trippel and an American IPA. Being that these are my two of my top three beer styles, Exit 4 ranks as one of my top beers of all time...and for it to be a year-round offering makes me smile. I am never without less than a 6-pack (and more like a case) at any given time. The ability to harness the profile of a Belgian Trippel/Tripel/Triple and combine it with the hop aroma/flavor from Pacific Northwest hops makes it one outstanding offering. Exit 4 is one (among many) reason to rejoice being born and raised in New Jersey...get it if you can! What's more, you cannot beat the value for a Trippel of this caliber (~$10.99 a 6-Pack)...simply amazing! 4.75 (2,430 characters)

A - Hazy and very bubbly with a solid inch of head that makes for great lacing. Beer itself is a bright yellow.S - mmm interesting this triple seems to have a good hoppy base making for a very nice citrus edge to the fruity dry aspect. Almost apple cider like smell.T - Slightly dry fruity hops with a fruity belgium yeast. I am actually surprised how balanced the body is. Crisp refreshing and tasty. Tasty stuff.M - Best part of the beer it drinks with a medium body and no noticeable ABV. Great!

Overall this is one great Triple very hoppy and balanced with little to no ethanol bite. Worth trying I may even get it again! (689 characters)

A - almost always give a 4 on this unless the beer looks extra shitty or amazing. Deep golden amber on this one, crystal clear with white head that leaves great lacing. S - NIce citrusy hops, orange, lemon, lime, banana, pineapple, some breadiness in the background. T - Taste basically follows the nose. This is a very citrusy trippel. Orange, lemon, lime, pineapple, just a ton of fruity goodness. M - Very light mouthfeel for what it is. Alc completely covered. Aftertaste is citrusy fruit. O - It's great, but I'll be the first to admit it's not that complex. Like drinking orange pineapple juice, almost exactly. (621 characters)

12 ounce bottle into chalice, best before 3/1/2014. Pours lightly hazy golden amber color with a 1 finger dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of lemon zest, pineapple, tangerine, peach, pear, clove, pepper, light banana, floral, light honey, light pine, bread, candi sugar, and floral/yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of hop, yeast, and malt notes; with good strength. Taste of lemon zest, pineapple, peach, pear, clove, banana, pepper, floral, bread, light honey, candi sugar, light bubblegum, and floral/yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of citrus, light fruits, clove, pepper, bread, light banana, light honey, candi sugar, floral, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of hop, malt, and yeast ester flavors; with zero cloying sweetness after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a smooth and lightly slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice dry hopped Tripel style. All around nice balance and complexity of hop, malt, and yeast ester flavors; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering. (1,341 characters)

Pours light gold, partially see through. Low foam. Notes of sugar and hints of clove. Banana citrus too. Taste is a complex fruity blend with a unique pointed hop. All works together. Embedded spices make for a very good beer. (294 characters)

t: NOTE: i am drinking this at room temp. alcohol up front which quickly fades to sweet malt, clove, coriander and wheat. there is an almost berry-like flavor and sweet tangerine and apricot in here as well. finishes spicy with a slight alcohol tang

m: lighter side of medium, tons of carbonation. it really pops in your mouth

o: good not great. like i said, i started this at room temperature. the sweetness and fruitiness is nice, but i would have like a little more of a wheaty/banana flavor in here..oh well. also a little less alcohol in the flavor would have been nice (though was room temp). overall all though, i would give this a thumbs up, though i feel there are better representations of the style (991 characters)

Exit 4 is an American craft tripel, nice construction, very pretty pour, definite citrus taste and aftertaste, moderate carbonation for the ABV. Without echoing much of what has already been said, this beer is well worth buying, Flying Fish appears to be a fine brewery. I must hole back from the comparisons to Belgian tripels(they brought it up on their label), but as a warm afternoon enjoyment beverage this one works for me. (429 characters)